Monuments of D.C. Video

Washington Memorial

  • Concerning the plans of the memorial immediately after Washington’s death, what was the memorial supposed to look like?

    • a huge pyramid of marble and granite 

  • What unique method did the builders use to replace the worn ropes, in order to continue the construction of the memorial after the Civil War?

    • a street pigeon was sent to the top with a rope tied to it and was then shot to replace the old ropes

  • For how long was the Washington Memorial the tallest structure in the world?

    • only 1 year 

  • What portion of the memorial’s original design is missing from today’s actual memorial?

    • the temple around the bottom

  • How much of a donation was asked from each citizen of the country, in order to build the memorial?

    • $1

  • How tall is the memorial?

    • 555’

  • What trowel was used to begin the construction of the memorial?  (It had great symbolic relevance.)

    • Same trowel used to place the cornerstone of the capitol 

  • What crime did the Know-Nothings commit at the construction site of the memorial?

    • Stole pope’s stone 

  • What structure replaced the Washington Memorial as the world’s tallest?

    1. the eiffel tower

  • As a publicity stunt, what object was dropped from the top of the memorial?

    1. 13 balls


Jefferson Memorial

  • Why did crowds of women attempt to stop the construction of the memorial?

    • to preserve the cherry blossom trees that were given as a gift from japan

  • On what anniversary was the monument dedicated?

    • Jefferson’s birth 

  • List one of the three statements written on the walls of the memorial.  (They also make up the epitaph Jefferson requested be engraved on his tomb.)

    • I have sworn on the alter of god eternal to …

  • Concerning the memorial, what change did FDR make in order to enhance its view from the White House?

    • removed some trees 

  • Who actually initiated the idea for the building of the memorial?

    • Franklin Roosevelt

  • The design chosen for the memorial was actually based on an earlier rejected design for the White House.  Whose design was it?

    • Henry Bacon’s

Lincoln Memorial

  • The memorial’s design was patterned after the Parthenon of what Greek god/goddess?

    • Athena

  • Why aren’t the columns of the memorial perfectly straight?

    • to make an optical illusion to make it sink more inward

  • What would Lincoln not have liked about the gathering on the opening day of the memorial?

    • it was segregated 

  • What is the legend concerning the back of Lincoln’s head on the sculpture within the memorial? 

    • Robert E. Lee is carved into it

  • What is engraved on the walls of the memorial?

    • Gettysburg address 

  • Why are there thirty-six columns as part of the memorial?

    • to represents the states 

  • Who was one of the very special guests in attendance on the monument’s opening day?

    • Robert Todd Lincoln

  • Why could the statue within the memorial not be taller than nineteen feet? 

    • so that it is shorter than the statue of freedom 

  • What was the predominant reason for construction of the memorial not being started immediately?

    • lack of funds

  • What do the presumed two faces of Lincoln’s sculpture represent?

    • the left side is a lincoln of peace and the right side is a lincoln of war


Arlington National Cemetery

  • Arlington House was the home of what famous wartime personality?

    • Robert E. Lee

  • What was the real reason for the grounds around Arlington being turned into a cemetery?

    • to punish Lee 

  • For what reason was Arlington House confiscated in 1864?

    • because he couldn’t bring himself to lead the union against the south 

  • Arlington House was designed and built by whom?

    • Washingtons son 

  • What is the minimum height of a guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

    • 6’

  • What is the required material for the uniforms of the guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

    • wool

  • Why is wool the required material for the uniform of the guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

    • only material which will hold a crease

  • Why, specifically, do the guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier wear sunglasses?

    • due to the glare of the marbel used in the memorial

  • How many steps does a guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier take before his about-face?

    • 21

  • For  how long does a guard stop and look at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

    • 21seconds

  • For what traditional reason does a guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier take 21 steps and look at the tomb for 21 seconds?

    • representative of the 21 gun solute 

  • What are the different shifts of the guards for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and how long is each shift?

    • every half hour is sumer, 1hrs in winter, and every 2hrs when it is closed

  • The battle for what small Pacific island was the turning of the tide in World War II?

    • hiroshima 

  • Approximately how tall is the sculpture of the Marine Corp Memorial?

    • 78’